(Liz Klimas) The Special Operations Forces Report (SOFREP) called our attention to a 2,929-word letter signed by more than 1,000 Green Berets in support of protecting the Second Amendment and explaining why “all Americans should be concerned” about doing so themselves.

The letter was originally posted on the website Professional Soldiers, a forum that Military.com explained is operatedby retired Army Special Forces Master Sgt. Jeff Hinton. Military.com also noted that the 1,100 signatories were not officially named due to the nature of their careers, but the letter notes all are current or former Special Forces members.

“Like you, we are also loving and caring fathers and grandfathers. Like you, we have been stunned, horrified, and angered by the tragedies of Columbine, Virginia Tech, Aurora, Fort Hood, and Sandy Hook; and like you, we are searching for solutions to the problem of gun-related crimes in our society,” the letter by “Team Sergeant” reads.

The letter goes on to clarify a few points in the gun control debate. One of which is the misconception about “assault weapons,” for which many have proposed bans. The letter explains, as TheBlaze did in a previous article, that the term “assault” to describe rifles or other guns — especially semi-automatic ones — is often misplaced.

Under the letter’s definition of what an “assault” weapon is, the government has already “banned or heavily restricted” their sale. And an AR-15, for example, is not considered an “assault rifle.”

The letter takes a look at another popular vocabulary word of this gun debate: high-capacity magazine.

“As experts in military weapons of all types, it is our considered opinion that reducing magazine capacity from 30 rounds to 10 rounds will only require an additional 6 -8 seconds to change two empty 10 round magazines with full magazines,” the letter reads. “Would an increase of 6 –8 seconds make any real difference to the outcome in a mass shooting incident? In our opinion it would not. Outlawing such ‘high capacity magazines’ would, however, outlaw a class of firearms that are ‘in common use’.”

They also point out in the Columbine shootings, gunman Eric Harris used a firearm in compliance with the Federal Assault Weapons Ban of 1994 that used 10-round capacity magazines.

“[...] Harris simply brought more of them: thirteen magazines would be found in the massacre’s aftermath.”

The letter states that it is “politically expedient” to pass more gun control laws in light of recent events in the name of protecting children, but “is the problem really guns?” That’s the million dollar question isn’t it?

The letter goes on to discuss the intent and restrictions of the Second Amendment, court decisions involving firearm control and the unintended consequences of strict gun control laws. In the middle of the letter is the group’s general thesis:

So why should non-gun owners, a majority of Americans, care about maintaining the 2nd Amendment right for citizens to bear arms of any kind?

The answer is “The Battle of Athens, TN”. The Cantrell family had controlled the economy and politics of McMinn County, Tennessee since the 1930s. Paul Cantrell had been Sheriff from 1936 -1940 and in 1942 was elected to the State Senate. His chief deputy, Paul Mansfield, was subsequently elected to two terms as Sheriff. In 1946 returning WWII veterans put up a popular candidate for Sheriff. On August 1 Sheriff Mansfield and 200 “deputies” stormed the post office polling place to take control of the ballot boxes wounding an objecting observer in the process. The veterans bearing military style weapons, laid siege to the Sheriff’s office demanding return of the ballot boxes for public counting of the votes as prescribed in Tennessee law. After exchange of gun fire and blowing open the locked doors, the veterans secured the ballot boxes thereby protecting the integrity of the election. And this is precisely why all Americans should be concerned about protecting all of our right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the Second Amendment!

“Team Sergeant” then goes on to list their recommendations to create a safer society that protects the Second Amendment but “will require patience and diligence to realize an effect.